Welcome! Please take a moment to fill out the “About My Child” handout. They are on the back table. You may complete them this evening and put them in the basket (also on the back table),return them at a later date with your child, or email me your response. Thank you!

6F: 9:20-11:26 40 minutes of Reading Workshop 40 minutes of Writing Workshop 40 minutes of Social Studies 6D: 12:50-3:00

Writing Writer’s workshop model is used to teach writing. Students will write in the following genres: realistic fiction, literary essay, informational essay, myth, and memoir. Students will use a writing notebook and binder. Notebooks will be graded when writers move on to drafting.

Reading Reading is taught using the reading workshop model. Students select independent reading books in a variety of genres. Students learn to self assess and select “just-right” books. Students build reading stamina. Students have daily opportunities to talk about their books. This year the students will also participate in various book clubs. 40 book reading goal!

Student Expectations for Reading Read for 20 minutes per day in classroom. Read for 30 minutes at home each evening. Read from a variety of genres. Apply comprehension strategies to all reading and document thinking in the form of quick jots (post-it notes) and as entries in their reading notebook (weighted 2x). Work on our classroom reading goal and keep track of books read using their reading log.

Social Studies Knowledge of the past helps us understand the present and prepare for the future. Map and Geography skills are integrated into all units. Focus is on critical thinking, problem-solving and developing non-fiction reading strategies. Major Units: Greece, Rome, Byzantine Empire, World Religions, Middle Ages. Projects will be assigned throughout the year. Students are given study guides when test dates are announced (a week’s notice is given for a test).

We step it up, and we achieve! Growth Mindset A belief system that suggests that one’s intelligence can be grown or developed with persistence, effort, and a focus on learning. Encourage resilience. Praise child’s willingness to try, effort, patience, and practice. Do not attribute success to “being smart.” “Children who are praised for their intelligence learn to value performance, while children praised for their effort and hard work value opportunities to learn.” –How the Gifted Mind Works Take failure as learning opportunities. We step it up, and we achieve!

Extra Help: Students are always welcome to see me for extra help. Students who wish to attend extra help are asked to give me at least a day’s notice. Scheduling of extra help will be arranged on an individual basis. Students are to come to extra help with specific questions.

Contact Information: Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions or concerns. E-mail is the preferred method of contact. sforcella@npsdnj.org